Luggage



Dec. 11, 1934. -v G, H. WHEARY 1,983,721

LUGGAGE Filed sept. 23, 195o sheets-sheet 1 G. H. WHEARY Dec. 11, 1934.

LUGGAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1950 5 @www 55mg@ #my Wham/ Patented Dec. ll, 1934 risata T GPH@ LUGGAGE poration oi VJisconsin Application September 23, 1930, Serial No. 483,795

12 Claims. .(Cl. i90- 41) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hand luggage and hasas one of its objects the provision of an improved case whereby one or more mens suits may be readily carried without wrinkling and at the same time provide ample space for other articles without increasing the overall size or weight of the case'.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved means for carrying the suits within the case whereby any suit may be removed without disturbing the others'.

And a further object of this invention resides in the provision of improved means for attaching the removable garment hangers, which cooperate with the means for carrying the suits, within the case so as to avoid shifting of the suit or suits during closing of the case.

With the above and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode l have so far devised for the practical application oi the principles thereof, and in which: y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of 'a mans case embodying my invention, the case being shown in open position with part of its cover broken away and illustrating one suit properly positioned therein;

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view-o one side of the novel suit carrying frames and one of the boards associated with the frames to support the suits against dropping into the body of the case when the same is open;

Figure 3 is an end View of the case in open position with parts broken away and in section, and with two suits in place;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view similar to Figure 3 and illustrating the cover closed; and

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view of a hanger showing the improved means Afor detachably mounting the same in the case.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the

` numeral 5 represents the main section of a luggage carrier of the hand case typehaving a cover 6 hingedly connected therewith along one marginal edge, as at 7.

As is customary, the case is provided with a conventional handle 8 and locking devices 9. The interior of the main section may be partitioned according to the requirements for which the case is designed and in the present instance, a partition wall l is removably mounted in the main section parallel with and spaced from its front wall l1, by guides l2. A cover 13 is hingedly mounted to close the compartment or space 14 provided between the partition and the front wall 11 and if desired the compartment 14 may be subdivided in any suitable manner.

Provision is made for carrying one or more complete mens suits (two in the present instance) over the top of the main section Aand in the cover 6 when closed, the garments being so positioned and held within the case that when removed therefrom they are as neat and unwrinkled as when placed therein. Heretofore, in hand luggage of this character, it has been customary to drape or support both suits from a single hingedly mounted frame and while this manner of supporting the suits served its purpose and held the suits against shifting during transportation, it was impossible to remove the inner suit without first removing the outer suit.

This invention therefore contemplates a structure whereby either suit may be removed without in any way disturbing the arrangement of the other, and to this end two garment supporting frames l and 16 are provided. The two frames are substantially alike and each has padded gar-- ment supporting bars 17 connecting the outer ends oi side arms 18, the inner Iends 19 of which are directed at an angle toward each other and pivotally connected as at 20. The angularly directed ends 19 of the lower frame side arms, when the frames are in their horizontal positions illustratedin Figure 1, extendupwardly and rearwardly, and the angularly directed ends 19 of the upper frame extend downwardly and rearwardly, so that the point of pivot 20 extends into the cover when closed. v

Connected with the frames and 16 at their point of pivotal connection are attaching members 21 which are removably supported in channel members or guides 22 secured to the inner faces of the side walls of the main section adjacent their rear ends and the hinged connection of the main section and cover. The frames 15 and 16, are thus movable about their points of pivotal connection with the attaching members 21, into and out of alignment with the main section or the cover when the case is in open position, and means are provided for connecting the frames to facilitate their` simultaneous movement, said means being readily releasable to permit independent movement of either frame.

The means for releasably connecting the frames consists of upwardly extending members 23 fixed in any suitable'manner to the side arms of the lower frame l5 and offset as at 24 to have their outer ends disposed outwardly of the side arms of the upper frame 16. The offset 24 is necessitated by the fact that the side arms of both frames, at least at their outer ends, are in common planes so that the outer ends of both frames are adjacent the inner walls of the main section and cover to prevent shifting of the frames. Spring members 25 fixed to the upwardly projecting members 23 with their outer ends yieldably engaged with the ends of the members 23 engage over the side arms of the upper frame and releasably hold them against movement away from the lower frame when the frames are closed down onto each other; and studs 26 xed to the members 23 and passing through apertures of the spring members 25 serve as abutments to limit the movement of the upper frame toward the lower frame.

The frames 15 and 16 are of such size that when swung to their horizontal positions over the main section, as illustrated in Figure 1, their garment supporting bars 17 will be adjacent the front wall 11, but spaced therefrom a distance suicient to allow for the thickness of a suit folded thereover, and when the cover is opened, in which position it is held by a suitable collapsible support 27, and the frames swung vertically, they will rest against the cover and thus remain in their upright positions.

Cooperating with the frames 15 and 16 are hangers 28 of the conventional type having a top portion 29 of a shape to iit the shoulders of a coat and vest and a transverse bar 30 over which the trousers may be draped.

The hangers are adapted to be removably attached to the cover 6 by means of metal straps 31 hingedly connected with the hangers as at 32, and having their outer ends provided with T shaped heads 33 which are engageable with a keeper member 34 centrally mounted in the rear portion of the cover adjacent its hinged connection with the main section. The keeper member 34 is stamped from bendable metal to substantially l. shape with attaching means at the outer ends of its two arms and has a slot 35 formed in both its arms, the slot being enlarged as at 36 directly adjacent the top wall of the cover to provide an entrance through which the T shaped heads 33 of the hanger carried straps may be passed. A firm support is thus provided for the hangers when the case is in open position to permit the application of tension thereto to facilitate straightening and arranging the suits during packing.

In arranging a suit in the case, the top frame 16 is disengaged from the frame 15 and swung upwardly into alignment with the cover, leaving the frame 16 in its horizontal position over the main section. A hanger having the trousers of the suit draped over its bar 30 and the coat and vest placed thereon in the conventional manner is then secured in position by having the T shaped head of its strap 31 engaged with the keeper member 34, and the suit which extends over the main section with its medial portion engaging the bar 17 of the frame 15 is neatly arranged to remove all undesired creases or folds.

The frame 15 is then swung upwardly on its hinged mounting causing the suit to fold about its bar 17.

With the frame 15 in its raised position, a board 37 is then detachably connected with the side arms of the frame 15 to hold the lower ends of the coat and trousers against their upper end portions, the board 37 also preventing the ends of the coat from dropping into the main section of the case when the frame l5 is moved thereover.

The manner of detachably connecting the board 37 with the side arms of the frame is best illustrated in Figure 2, and comprises hook shaped members 33 carried by the side arms and adapted to project through openings 39 in metal guards 40 fastened to the side edge portions of the board, it being necessary to first engage ie hook shaped members in the openings 39 and then move the board toward the hinged mounting of the frame 15, such movement of the board being facilitated by knobs 41 xed to the underside of the guards 40.

With the suit thus properly arranged, the frame 15 is returned to its horizontal position over the main section, and if a second suit is to be carried, the upper frame 16 is moved to its horizontal position over the frame 15 as illustrated in Figure 1 and the hanger carrying the second suit detachably connected with the keeper member 34. The procedure is then identical with that described in connection with the first suit, i. e., after the suit is neatly arranged the frame 16 is raised causing the suitto fold over its bar 17 and a second board 37 is attached to 'the frame 16.

The two frames with their suits properly arranged thereon are thus independent of each other, and either suit may be removed without disturbing the other, and when the two 'frames are connected by means of the releasable means 23 and 25, both frames may be simultaneously moved to facilitate access to the interior of the.l

main section.

After the suits have been properly arranged, it is of course undesirable to shift or derange them, and in my co-pending application, Serial No. 460,412,1iled June 11, 193i), Patent No. 1,918,- 310, July 18, 1933, the movement of the keeper member 34 toward the hangers during closing of the cover, is accommodated by interposing, between the hangers and their T shaped heads, flexible strap members. The present structure eliminates the flexible strap members by means of the hinged connections 32 as during closing of the cover the hinged connections permit the straps 31 carrying the T shaped heads to move toward the hanger.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the hangers do move slightly into their respective suits, during -the closing of the case, but this movement is not sumcient to derange the garments, and as the case is carried and ordinarily rests in a position with the bars 17 of the supporting frames 15 and 16 uppermost, it is obvious that there is never any tendency for the suits to shift from their proper positions draped over the bars 17.

It is also noted that the boards 37 are relatively thin to permit them to flex when in service so that the suits are held by a slightly yielding pressure.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I provide an improved type of hand luggage especially adapted for mens use and having means whereby one or more complete suits may be carried'without wrinkling and without unduly increasing the size and overall weight of the case, whereby either suit may be removed without in any way disturbing the arrangement of the other, and whereby shifting of the garments after they have been properly arranged is entirely eliminated.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Hand luggage of the character described, comprising hingedly connected sections, a garsuppcrting frame hingedly mounted adja- 4t the hinged connection of the sections, said llame being adapted to have a garment draped thereover, a second garment supporting trame hingedly mounted adjacent the hinged connection of the sections and adapted to have a second ment draped thereover, said garment supportg frames independently movable to and from alignment with either section when the luggage is open to enable either garment to be removed without disturbing the other, and means ed by one of the supporting frames and relea bly connectable with the other garment supporting frame to hold the frames in a deniteiy spaced but rigidly connected relation for simultaneous movement,

2. in a hand luggage case of the character described, comprising two hingedly connected sections, a plurality ci hingedly connected garment supporting frames, means for mounting the hingedly connected garment supporting frames for independent swinging movement, in one section on a single axis adjacent the hinged connection between the sections, and means for connecting the free end portions of the garment supporting frames to normally maintain the garment supporting frames in positive parallel spaced relation, said means being releasable to enable the frames to be moved about said axis independently or" each other.

3. In a hand luggage case of the character described, two hingedly connected sections, a pair of garment supporting frames, each frame having side arms and a garment supporting bar connecting the side arms, the inner end of each arm of each frame being directed toward the inner end or the corresponding arm of the other frame, means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the corresponding side arms to pivotally connect the garment supporting frames with each other, and means mounting the connected garment supporting frames in one section at their points of pivotal connection.

4. In a hand luggage case of the character described, including a main section and a cover hinged thereto, means for supporting garments within the case including a garment receiving and means for connecting the garment receiving member with the cover of the case to facilitate arrangement of garments carried thereby within the case, the point of connection of said means with said cover moving a substantial distance toward the garment receiving member during closing or the cover, and said means comprising a pair of rigid members hingedly connected to be collapsibleand thus accommodate said movement to enable the garment receiving member to remain substantially stationary during the closing of the cover.

5. In a hand luggage case of the character described, including a main section and a cover hingedly connected therewith, means for supporting garments in the case, comprising a supporting frame, a garment hanger on which garments are mounted preparatory to being placed on said supporting frame, a keeper member carried by the cover of the case, and a metal attaching meinber hingedly connected with the hanger and engageable with the keeper member for connecting the garment hanger with the cover, said hinged connection accommodating movement or" the point of connection or" the attaching member with the keeper member during clos-'rigr ci the cover without disturbing the position o the gai'- ment hanger sufficiently to derange the garments thereon.

6. In a hand luggage case of the character described, a movably mounted frame adapted to have garments draped thereover, a retaining member for holding the garments in substantial alignment with the frame, and means for readily detachably connecting the retaining member with the frame comprising, a hook member carried by the frame with an overhanging portion spaced .from the frame, said hook member being adapted to pass through an opening in the retaining member, whereby movement cf the retaining member with respect to the frame readily detachably engages a portion of the retaining member between the frame and said overhanging portion of the hook member.

7. In a hand luggage case of the character described, two hingedly connected sections, a plurality of garment supporting frames, each comprising spaced side arms connected at one end by a garment supporting bar over which garments may be draped, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of the side arms of said frames to each other whereby the frames are pivotally connected at their ends remote from the garment supporting bars, supporting means adjacent the hinged connection of the sections and connected with said frames at their points of pivotal connection to mount said frames for swinging movement from a raised to a lowered position when the case is open, and means to releasably connect the outer free end portions of the frames so that the frames may be moved in unison, said means comprising a transverse arm carried by the side arm of one frame and projecting toward the other frame, and spring means carried by said transverse arm to co-act with said arm and form a keeper recess into which the adjacent portion of the side arm of said other frame is releasably received.

8. In a hand luggage case comprising hingedly connected sections, a plurality of garment supporting units hingedly mounted in one of the sections to swing about a common axis, each garment supporting unit being adapted to have a garment draped thereon and being separately movable to and from a position over one section when the case is open to enable the garments on any one unit to be removed without disturbing the garments on other units, and means carried by one garment supporting unit and releasably engageable with another garment supporting unit to rigidly connect said garment supporting units in positive spaced relation so that the garments carried by said units are held spaced from each other to preclude being crushed and whereby said connected units are simultaneously Inovable.

9. In a hand luggage case comprising two hingedly connected sections, a pair of garment supporting frames, each frame having side arms and a garment supporting bar connecting the outer ends of the side arms, the inner ends of the side arms being directed toward each other, means permanently hingedly connecting the inner ends of the side arms to each other, means to hingedly mount the connected garment supporting frames at their points of hinged connection in one of the sections, and rigid means carried by the free end portion of one frame and readily releasably connectable With the outer free end portion of the other garment supporting frame, whereby said frames may be rigidly connected in positive spaced relation for simultaneous movement about the axis of their hinged mounting.

l0. Means to readily detachably connect the outer free end portions of two garment supporting frames of a hand luggage oase, so that the frames are positively held in connected spaced relationship comprising, an arm fixed to one of said frames and projecting toward the other frame, and a spring finger fixed to said arm and overlying the outer end portion thereof, said outer end portion of the arm and the spring finger being formed to provide a keeper recess into and out of which the adjacent portion of said other garment supporting unit is readily movable upon forced deflection of the spring finger out of its normal position.

11. In a hand luggage case of the character described, two hingedly connected sections, a pl'u-` rality of garment supporting frames,each adapted to have garments draped thereover, common means for mounting the garment supporting frames in one section for independent swinging movement to and from a position over said section, and rigid means carried by the free end portion of one of the frames and readily releasably connectable with the free end portion of another frame whereby said frames may be rigidly connected in positive spaced relation to be simultaneously movable.

l12. Means to readily detachably connect the outer free end portions of tWo garment supporting frames of a hand luggage case, so that the frames are positively held in connected spaced relationship comprising, an arm xed to one of said frames and projecting toward the other frame, and a spring finger fixed to said arin and overlying the outer end portion thereof, said outer end portion of the arm and the spring nger being formed to provide a keeper recess, said other garment supporting frame having means adapted to move into and out of said recess upon forced deflection of the spring finger out of its normal position.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY. 

